Apparatus for treating filaments formed from viscose



Jan. 5, 1926. 1,568,687 S. A. NEIDICH APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILAMENTS FORMED FROM VISCOSE Filed July 30 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 x wf/vroR; 511M051. AMlofcu,

. 1,568,687 S. A. NEIDICH APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILAMENTS FORMED FROM VISCOSE Jan. ,5 1926 Filed July 50 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

1,568,687 PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. NEInIcm or EDGEWATER PARK, new JERSEY.

APPARATUS EOR TREATING FILAMENTS FORMED FROM VISCOSE.

Application filed July 30, 1925. Serial No. 46,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. NEIDIoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewater Park, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement, in Apparatus for Treating Filaments Formed from Viscose.

Liquid viscose (cellulose sulphocarbonate or thiocarbonate) maybe coagulated or precipitated to form a gelatinous semi-solid cellulose hydrate complex by progressively projecting a stream of such viscose into a heated atmosphere or into an aqueous solution containing a suitable acid, for in-' stance, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, or

containing an acid salt much as sodiunr bisulphite or ammonium' chloride either with or without neutral salts or dehydrators, or both; or carbon bi-sulphide etc.

Such a filament is amorphous and so soft and impressionable that it is easily deformed even by contact with itself in successive V convolutions, and even slight indentations of the ultimate commercial filament formed by drying and contraction from its primarily soft gelatinous form are conspicuously noticeable because of the reflection of light therefrom, whereas; the commercial value of such filament is largely dependent upon its unformity of cross section and uniformly lustrous appearance. Consequently, when it is desired to form such filaments of uni form cross section free from identation, it is undesirable to wind them inthe usual way upon the-surface of bobbins orother similar containers, and a method of drop ping such filaments in bulk is desirable. However, when such filaments are dropped in loose bulk, even their own'weight impressing the upper lays upon the lowerlayers, produces such indentations as to .be undesirable.

Therefore, it' is the object and effect of my invention to provide means to separately receive and store each filament, in close but loose convolutions, and suspend and support such filaments practically continuously from the time they enter the coagulating bath until they are sufliciently firm to resist such deformation or indentation, so that the final roduct is of uniform cross section and without the defects aforesaid andconsequently of greater commercial value.

ess of employing the same, as herein contemplated,-are claimed in my copending-application Serial No. 32,455, filed May 23,

1925. Such liquid is preferably one which is also capable of rendering the filament suf- -ficiently firm to be self-supporting without deformation. For instance, an aqueous solution containing six and one half percent of sodium bisulphite, three percent of sodium sulphate (Glaubers salt), and .four percent of NH,Cl (s'al ammoniac) supports such filaments and simultaneously renders them firm enough to be self-supporting.

' I have foundby experiment that by permitting'the precipitated filaments to drop in a progressively coiled mass in the above solution and remain still for several hours, they are sufiiciently firm to undergo the chemical treatment described in my application Serial No. 26,825, filed April 29, 1925 and may be readily withdrawn therefrom, by suitable winding means; without tangling.

In my copending applications aforesaid copending my present invention is to provide apparatus in which such rectangular containers are used and to further compact the apparatus embodying the same by superimposing portions thereof in two stories in a supporting housing frame work.

In the form of my invention chosen for illustration herein; the filament containers are rectangular trays, conveniently three inches deep, six inches wide and thirty six inches long and arranged to be reciprocated in groups of eight, in a metallic basket which is normally held in a. reciprocatory carriage from which such groups of trays may be elevated in such basket and discharged; the basket thus emptied being refilled with em ty trays and returned to such carriage. As hereinafter set forth; such operation is practically continuous except for short intervals during which the trays are changed as aforesaid.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a diagrammatic, left hand, side elevation of a housing frame work supporting a convenient embodiment of my invention.

Fig. I] is a diagrammatic front elevation of the left hand end portion of the structure shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a diagraunmltic front clevation of the right hand portion of said structure.

In said figures; the housing frame work 1 includes suitable vertical columns 2 and 3 extending from the first floor 5 to the second floor 6 and supporting the latter by means of joists 7. The trough shaped tank 8 may be conveniently formed of wood supported by metal brackets 9 bolted to said frame work 1 above said second floor. Means arranged to extrude filaments of viscose into the coagulating liquid 10 in said tank at intervals of the length thereof, include respective spinnerets 11 at the ends of conduits 12 having individual rotary pumps 13 supplied with viscose through the filters 14 in communication with the main supply pipe 15.

As the viscose must be supplied to the spinnerets 11 at different rates, in accordance with differences in the diameters of the filaments to be produced; I provide means arranged to operate said pumps 13 at adjustably variable speed. Such means includes individual pump gears 16 and a train of change gears 17, 18, 19 and 20, said gears 17 being mounted on the shaft 21 respectively in engagement with said gears 16: and said gear 20 being mounted on what I term the pump gear driving shaft 24. Said shaft is provided with the driven sprocket wheel 22 by which it is rotated as hereinafter described. Said shaft 24 is also provided with the driving sprocket wheel 23 for operating means arranged to withdraw the partially coagulated filaments 25 from said coagulating liquid 10 in said tank 8, in-

cluding a feed roller 27 upon a rotary shaft 28 extending longitudinally with respect to said tank 8'above the latter and conveniently supported in bearing standards 29 rigidly connected with said brackets 9. Said shaft 28 has the sprocket wheel 30 operativel) connected with said driving sprocket wheel 23 on said pump gear driving shaft 24, by the belt 31; whereby said roller 27 may be slowly rotated.

trays, including the bar crank 34, carried by the bar crank shaft 35 and having the crank pin 36 connected to said slide bar 33 by the pivoted link 37, as indicated in Fig. I; whereby said filaments 25 are respectively directed through said guides 32 over said roller 27 so as to be continually dropped from the latter, as indicated in Figs. I

and II.

In order to rotatesaid bar crank shaft 35 at the extremely slow rate desired; to cause each filament to gradually shift from one end to the other of the feed roller 27; I provide said shaft 35 with the worm gear 38 in engagement with the worm 39 on the shaft 40 in .the housing 41, and provide said shaft 40 with the sprocket wheel 42 connected by the belt 43 with the sprocket wheel 44 on said shaft 28, which is driven asabove described.

' The series of rectangular trays 46 aforesaid respectively extend beneath said feed roller 27, transverse to the common axis of the latter, and in parallel relation, as indicated in Figs. 1- and II. Said trays are thus temporarily held in the basket 47 which is provided with hangers 48 by which it may be raised and lowered by the hoisting mechanism indicated in Fig. I, including the block 49 and tackle 50. However, said basket is normally held in the carriage 52 comprising a rectangular box body'provided with supporting wheels 53 upon axles 54 and arranged to traverse rails 55 which are supported in said frame work between said first and second floors, extending transversely to the axis of said feed rollers.

I provide means arranged to reciprocate said carriage 52 with said trays 46 beneath said roller 27 and respectively in registry therewith, including bracket 57, pendent from said carriage 52 in engagement with the endless chain belt 58. Said belt is supported with its runs at different levels parallel with said rails upon the wheels 59 and 60, provided with the respective shafts 61 Said shaft 61 is provided with the gear wheel 66 in .mesh with t-he'gear pinion 67 onthe shaft 68 which is journaled in the bearing bracket 69 and carries the ratchet wheel 70. Said ratchet wheel is arranged to be alternately turned in opposite directions to reciprocate said chain 58 and carriage 52, by means of the reversible pawl 71 which is pivoted at 72 upon the pawl' lever 7 which is fulcrumed' upon said shaft 68 and arranged to be oscillated by the link 7 4t connected with the pawl crank 7 5 on the disk 76 carried by the shaft 77, which is journaled in the bearing bracket 78 secured to said column As indicated in Fig. I; said pawl 71 has two points which are alternately brought into operative relation with said ratchet 70, by the pawl'arm 80,-whereby said pawl is rocked upon itspivotal support 72. Such rocking movement and reversal of said pawl are conveniently automatically effected by' the tappet slide R1 which is mounted to reciprocate in the bearing bracket 82 which is rigidly connected with one of said rails Said tappet slide 81 has two studs 8% and 85 projecting upon opposite sides of said arm 80 and has its end 86 projecting in the path of the abutments 87 and 88 which are respectiveil rigidly connected with said carriage near the respectively opposite ends thereof.

All of the mechanism above described is arranged to be operated by the single elec-' tric motor 90 which has its armature shaft 91 provided with the pully 92 connected by the belt 93 with the large pulley 94 on the countershaft 95 which is supported in the standards 96 upon said floor 5. -Said shaft 95 also has thereon the small sprocket wheel 97 connected by the belt 98; with the sprocket wheel 99 on said pawl crank shaft 77 which is thereby rotated. Said crank shaft 77 also carries the sprocket wheel 101 connected by the belt 102 with said driven sprocket wheel 22 on said pump gear driving shaft 24:.

It isto be understoodthat when said motor 90 is started; the filaments 25 are extruded into the coagulating liquid 10 and withdrawn therefrom by the feed roller 27; each filament being longitudinally and circumferentia-lly moved over said roller so as to be respectively dropped into said trays 46 in convolutions which are first transversely and second longitudinally successive with reference to the length of each of said trays in which said filaments are thus progressively distributed and received;

In order to prevent the weight of the filaments from marking them, as above eontemplated, I prefer to support each filament in its tray while in said carriage 52, by flotation liquid 10st in said carriage. When a sufiicient amount of filament is thus deposited in each of said trays 46 in the series held in any basket 47 in any carriage 52; such basket with the trays may be lifted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. I, so that the filled trays maybe discharged upon the table 105 and replaced by empty trays. The basket 47 with the empty trays may then be replaced in the carriage and the operation resumed. Therefore, it is to be understood that the operation of forming filaments as above described is practically continuous, except for the SllJ'lll' intermissions required for changing the trays,

Although I find it desirable to construct and arrange my impror'ed apparatus in the form which I have illustrated; I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, and arrangement herein set forth; as itis obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In apparatus for treating filaments formed from viscose, the combination with a tank containing a viscose coagulating liquid; of means arranged to extrude filaments of viscose into said tank at intervals of the length thereof, including respective spinneret conduits having individual pumps; means arranged to operate said pumps; means arranged to withdraw the partially coagulated filaments from said tank, including a feed roller; filament guides, respectively local to said roller; a slide bar carrying said guides; means ar ranged to reciprocate said bar, whereby said filaments are respectively directed through said guides, over said roller; a series of trays respectively extending be.- neath said roller, transverse to the common axis of the latter; a carriage holding said trays; supporting wheels beneath said earriage; rails for said wheel-s, extending transversely to the axis of said feed rollers;

' means arranged to reciprocate said carriage with said trays beneath said roller, respectively in registry therewith; whereby filaments withdrawn from said coagulating liquid in said tank by said roller are respectively dropped into said trays in convolutions. which are first transversely and second longitudinally successive with reference to the length of each of said trays in which the filaments are thus progressively distributed and received.

2. In apparatus for treating filaments formed from viscose; the combination with a two-storied frame work; of a tank containing a viscose coagulating liquid; means supporting said tank in the second story of said frame work; means arranged to e'x trude a filament of viscose into said tank; means arranged to withdraw. the partially coagulated filament from said tank, including a rotary feed roller over WhlCh said and means arranged to reciprocate said guide; a tray extending beneath said roller. transverse to the axis of the latter and in registry with said filament; and means arranged to reciprocate said tray; whereby said filament is dropped into said tray in convolutions which are first transversely and second longitudinally successive with reference to the length of the tray, in which the filament is thus progressively distributed and received; and means supporting said filament inv said tray, so that said filament is unmarked by its own weight, including a flotation liquid.

3.111 apparatus for treating filaments formed from viscose; the combination with a two-storied frame work; of a tank containing a viscose coagulating liquid; means supporting said tank in the second story of said frame work; means arranged to extrude a filament of viscose into said tank; meansarranged to withdraw the partially coagulated filament from said tank, includ ing a rotary feed roller over which said filament is pendent; means arranged to shift said pendent filament longitudinally upon said roller, including a guide through which the filament extends to said roller,

and means arranged to reciprocate said guide; a tray extending beneath said roller, transverse to the axis of the latter and in registry with, said filament; and means arranged to reciprocate said tray; whereby said filament is dropped into said tray in convolutions which are first transversely and second longitudinally successive with reference to the length of the tray, in which the filament is thus progressively distributed and received.

4;. In apparatus for treating filaments formed' from viscose; the combination with a two-storied frame work; of means arranged to extrude a filament of viscose and partially coagulate the same, supported in the second story of said frame work; means arranged to progressively lower said filament from said second story; means arranged to receive said filament, in the first story of said frame work, including a tray; and means arranged to distribute said filament in said tray, in convolutions which are transversely and longitudinally successive with reference to the length of the tray, in-

cluding means arranged to, reciprocate the pendent filament, transversely with respect to the length of said tray, and means arranged to contemporaneously reciprocate said tray longitudinally.

5. In apparatus for treating filaments formed from viscose; the combination with a two-storied frame work; of means arranged to extrude a filament of viscose and partially coagulate the same, supported in the second story of said frame work; means arranged to progressively lower said filament from said second story; means arranged to tray, arranged to drop said filament into said tray in convolutions which are transversely and longitudinally successive with reference to the length of the tray, in which the filament is thus progressively distributed and received; whereby said filament is so stored in said tray that it may be progressively withdrawn therefrom without tangling; and means supporting said filament in said tray, including a flotation liquid of specific gravity substantially equal to that of the filament.

7. Means arranged to store a filament of partially coagulated viscose, including a tray, supported in a substantially horizontal plane; means arranged to progressively lower said filament, substantially vertically with respect to said tray; and means arranged to relatively move said filament and tray, arranged to drop said filament into said tray inconvolutions which are transversely and longitudinally successive with reference to the length ofthe tray, in which the filament is thus progressively distributed and received; whereby said filament is so stored in said tray that it may be progressively withdrawn therefrom without tangling.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey, this 21st day of July, 1925.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH. 

